The High Decibels profile picture

The High Decibels

About Me

Album available for download on iTunes
Or for you super-cool old school cats, buy the physical CD on CD Baby
Reviews of the High Decibels' debut album:

Okayplayer "The High Decibels" "I was caught unawares by their simple-but-striking visual style, care-free but conscious true-school-isms and rootsy Blues-Rock riffs. I couldn't help but admire the way they simultaneously practice '90s Rap revivalism while paying tribute to proto-Rock Rhythm & Blues and the Rock & Roll and Soul revues of yesteryear.
SF Weekly "Miss Cindy": "This awesome track 'Miss Cindy' is straight up early days of Beck ... everything from country rock to hip-hop to Zeppelin blues and hard funk."
Pensatos "Miss Cindy": "Gliding from hip-hop and rock to blues with frightening ease is the second coming of schoolyard funk in the form of Oakland trio HIgh Decibels"
Meet the High Decibels, a veritable musical Molotov cocktail that mixes hip hop, old school rock, and superfunky blues. Featuring two MCs and a crackerjack live band, the group slides easily between classic rap and rock styles bringing a brash, adventurous spirit back to a genre that sorely lacks it.
Frontman Duke Johnson, an East Oakland native, started freestyling at the age of 12 in the schoolyard with some friends, including his current HD partner, hypeman Chief. His first live performance was at a talent show at a local high school. Mid-performance, his backing CD started skipping, and the audience booed him offstage.
Discouraged from performing rap, Duke decided to try poetry and spoken word. Equipped with plenty of subject matter from his experiences living in Oakland, he gathered his confidence and entered a few slam events. Transfixing audiences with real life depictions of struggles and shootings (one he witnessed at the age of 8), Duke soon became a top ranked slam poet in the Bay Area.
It was at a slam event in Berkeley where Duke caught the interest of rock/funk producer and guitarist KC Booker, who was looking to collaborate with some hip hop artists. Duke agreed to give rap one more try, and when Booker and Johnson recorded their first tracks -- a potent mix of authentic hip hop and hard, funky blues -- the chemistry was undeniable.
Bringing Duke’s childhood buddy Chief into the mix as a hypeman was the final essential ingredient. Coupled with a live band and Chief's raw, kinetic energy onstage, the High Decibels shows proved to be high-energy, crowd-stirring affairs . Their genre-crossing musical style and a solid debut album, has helped them earn outstanding critical reviews and a top 5 position on CMJ's Hip Hop Chart.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 25/01/2008
Band Website: www.thehighdecibels.com
Band Members: Duke - Vocals
Chief - Vocals
KC - Guitar
Aaron - Bass
Deano - Drums

"That Dude" - Music Video

"Crash With No Cushion" - Music Video

High Decibels Superbowl Commercial - Bud Light Lime

Influences: De La Soul, Led Zeppelin, Run-DMC, OutKast, The Who, the Beastie Boys, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, James Brown, Digable Planets, Beck, Tribe Called Quest, The Meters
Sounds Like: Rock Hop Blues
Record Label: Rolling Jack Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Booking Information!!!!!

The HD's have alot of heat right now due to our track "That Dude" being played during the Bud Lite Lime commercial during the SUPERBOWL and we are in the process of working on our second studio album ...
Posted by on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:44:00 GMT

The High Decibels in Superbowl Commercial!

The High Decibels song "That Dude" was featured in a Superbowl commercial for Bud Light Lime. "Sphere of Summer" (Bud Light Lime)
Posted by on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:20:00 GMT

HDs number 4 on CMJ Hip Hop!

The High Decibels have reached number 4 on the CMJ Hip Hop Chart. Lots of great support from from CJSW Calgary, KALX Berkeley, KDHX St. Louis, KEXP Seattle(2!!), KFAI Minneapolis, KLSU Baton Rouge, K...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:39:00 GMT

High Decibels debut album now available on iTunes!

Click the iTunes button to preview and purchase tracks from the High Decibels debut album.
Posted by on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:28:00 GMT

New Music Video for "That Dude"!

Check out the new music video for "That Dude" on our videos page. Filmed by Bill Latham and Moana Sherrill, edited by Rolling Jack Records Kelleth Chinn.
Posted by on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:08:00 GMT

High Decibels chart 6 CMJ Hip Hop !

The High Decibels debut album has reached 6 on the CMJ Hip Hop radio chart, in advance of album release!
Posted by on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:02:00 GMT

This Years National Poetry Slam Competition!!!!

Last night I was in Finals for the San Francisco Slam Team. For those of you that dont know or just never heard about a Poetry Slam let me explain. It's competitve poetry where you are scored on your ...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:26:00 GMT